Tuesday
November 9, 2004
arts. michigandaily. com
artsp age@michigandaily.com
r1e L i lan i
ART s
8
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Jo
SASOTA
Fashion overload
a
When it comes to under-
graduate living, there are
few things more important
than making a good impression.
Because appearance plays such
a big role when forming an impres-
sion, students will either conscious-
ly or unconsciously go about their
morning routine in a certain way to
optimize their physical appearance.
They do this by taking into account
what they think others believe is the
best way for them to look. In effect,
fashion is vital in maximizing physi-
cal countenance.
Fashionable clothing is used by
traditional students to enhance their
desirable physical characteristics.
Notice those Juicy Couture sweats
and their imitations being worn by
campus females? This is a distracting
item for guys because these particu-
lar pants intensify the beauty of the
woman. They are snug-fitting to give
an outline of the form. The velour
emphasizes the softness of women
that most guys are not aware of.
However, the current state of men's
fashion does nothing to enhance
characteristic male traits. Masculine
characteristics include being confi-
dent, strong and assertive. Currently,
men's popular fashion reflects wom-
en's desire for men to be hygienic,
distinguished, understanding and
sensitive. One of my friends and I
once joked that when we're older and
teaching, we'll both be wearing wool
blazers and jeans to make our stu-
dents erupt in laughter, breaking the
ice. Now; guys actually do it. A good
exercise in observance would involve
finding other inane combinations.
I moan because I feel contempo-
rary men's fashion is parallel to doll
clothing. I believe it is now more
common for a girl to compliment a
guy on a fashionable piece of cloth-
ing rather than for the girl to be curi-
ous as to what is underneath it. If we
want to be desirable, we are travel-
ing an indirect route by trying to
be fashionable. When maintaining
relationships of any consequence
(and maintaining relationships is the
goal), being trendy has never been a
necessary condition and is rarely a
sufficient one.
Guys sell themselves short when
they think girls want a guy who is
attentive or en vogue and dressy in
such a way to try to reflect the pos-
session of those characteristics. The
reason a girl has other girlfriends is
because they are infinitely more in
tune with how other girls feel. Gen-
erally, there is no point for a guy to
be fashionable because men's fash-
ion reflects what girls like in their
friends, not what they generally want
in guys.
What girls want in guys is an open
question. I believe that while girls
may value sensitivity or good fash-
ion taste, they would hold an Cadil-
lac Escalade at a higher value. I'd
venture to say girls at this age value
stature over sensitivity and fashion
sense - even politeness. Girls may
want a lot of certain traits, but typi-
cally they value the conventionally
shallow ones. This is the reason rich
jackasses are always with the most
attractive girls. With this in mind,
there is no need to explain the para-
dox of the "nice guy" with meager
earnings.
Regardless of what guys wear, to
establish relations with girls it is best
that it starts off with common cour-
tesy, like opening doors for them or
walking them to class. Often times,
smiling and eye contact is ordinarily
considered a sleazy gesture, unless
you possess an unusually pleasant
smile or smoldering eyes, because
girls may think you're trying to pic-
ture them naked.
The question guys have to ask
themselves is do they really want
girls complimenting them on the
color of their v-neck? While a direct
positive comment on how you look
is rewarding, it does nothing to
bring about a foundation on which
any type of meaningful relation-
ship can be built on. The process of
foundation building involves asking
and responding to questions, giving
thoughtful answers and occasionally
revealing pieces of information about
ourselves others may find interesting
and endearing.
For most guys, it is best they save
their money and compensate for
their failings in other ways because
it makes no sense and is too expen-
sive to be fashionable.
Join Jo as he ventures out to pick
up a new pair of overalls. He can be
reached at sasota@umich.edu.
"Pleased to meet you. Won't you guess my gender?"
SATISFACTION
SEMINAL STONES PERFORMANCE CAPTURED ON DVD
By Jacob Nathan
Daily Arts Writer
For two days in December 1968, The Rolling
Stones reminded everyone in London that they were
the hippest band in the world. Sure, the idea of an
enormous Rock and Roll Circus featuring trapeze
artists, fire-eaters, clowns and
one had yet heard of is over-
the-top. Only The Stones could
pull off such a spectacle, and
with sure hands and roaring
guitars, they did.
With the release of their latest
DVD, viewers are given a look
back at this seminal concert. The
idea for a Rock and Roll Circus
art-rock bands no
The Rolling
Stones Rock
and Roll
Circus DVD
Abkco
only after suggesting it himself to Jagger and Keith
Richards at a nightclub in Los Angeles. When The
Who play their seminal "A Quick One While He's
Away," drummer Keith Moon is so soaked in sweat
by the end of the song that each beat is marked by an
explosion of moisture off of his glistening body.
Marianne Faithful's presence at the concert is
significant for many reasons. Clad in a perfectly
fitted dress, and looking angelic while lounging on
the floor, her performance of the classic "Something
Better," is a highlight of the show. What's more, later
in the performance, as Jagger passionately belts out
the intro to "You Can't Always Get What You Want,"
he is clearly singing both to and about her.
The most historically important song performed is
"Yer Blues," orchestrated by the most-super-of-super-
groups, The Dirty Mac. This one-time amalgamation
of rock legends featured John Lennon, Eric Clapton,
Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell. In spite of the
fact that Lennon's delivery is droning, Clapton's solo
work is uninspired, and Richards seems uninterested
on bass; watching these musicians work together is
fascinating and exciting. Any perceived indifference
takes a back seat to the unparalleled talent they are
so well known for.
The quality of the transfer is acceptable, with the
graininess of the 16 millimeter stock adding to the
nostalgia. The sound, however, leaves something to
be desired. Although crisp and listenable, there is
something lacking in the volume department. For
some reason, even with the TV turned all the way up,
the loudness of these bands is never really captured.
The extra features are exciting, with extra tracks
by Taj Mahal and a nifty split screen recording
of The-Dirty Mac's song. As for the commentary,
the most interesting is that of Marianne Faithful,
who successfully drove the point home that on the
'60s London rock scene, everyone was friends with
everyone. John Lennon and Mick Jagger actually
did hang out. On David Dalton's commentary, he
points out that The Stones were the darlings of
the London "Hipoisie," since the release of "Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" had made The
Beatles decidedly un-hip.
The main purpose of this concert, however, was
to highlight The Rolling Stones. The way this spec-
tacle was filmed, however, didn't allow them to per-
form until 4 a.m. The crowd is no longer into it, and
even the band looks tired. All that aside, the songs
"Jumping Jack Flash," "Parachute Woman" and "Salt
of the Earth" are spectacularly performed. Jagger is
sharp and bright with his singing, and his movement
is seductively serpentine. Rumors persist that the
reason this concert wasn't released for 30 years is
because Jagger was dissatisfied with his own perfor-
mance. It is hard to see how this is possible.
When taken into context, this concert's impor-
tance is unparalleled, as it serves as a time capsule
into a time when "cool" was much cooler than it has
ever been. It is fun to watch, the music is excellent
and the enormity of the entire undertaking will not
be lost on any viewers.
Movie: ****
Picture/Sound: ***
Special Features: ***
was born out of conversations between The Who's
Pete Townshend and The Stones' lead singer Mick
Jagger. The original idea had The Stones, The Who
and Rod Stewart and The Faces traveling throughout
America on trains, playing shows under the big top.
For various logistical reasons, this became impos-
sible. Jagger, Townshend says on the DVD, kept this
extravagant idea alive by filming a whole concert for
a TV special.
The concert is worth watching for its lineup alone.
Among the big names, a few more obscure bands
of the era are featured, namely Jethro Tull and Taj
Mahal. Tull performed for nearly a full year before he
had any official releases, while Taj Mahal also played
'Glimmering' highlights familial strife
By Nichole Gerard
For the Daily
NEW LINE CINEMA a
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invite you and a guest to
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While supplies last, limit one pr person.
OPENS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2004
I
After a seven-year hiatus from fic-
tion writing, Cynthia Ozick makes a
bold return with "Heir to the Glim-
mering World."
The novel is intri-
cately woven, Heir to the
primarily telling Glimmering
the story of Rose World
Meadows, an 18- By Cynthia Ozick
year-old orphan
struggling to Houghton
make her way in
New York City during the late 1930s.
Rose winds up working as a nanny
and typist for the Mitwisser fam-
ily, refugees from Nazi Germany.
Living in a run-down home in the
Bronx, most of the novel deals with
Rose's adjustment to the chaotic
family. At the head of the family is
strict Prof. Rudolf Mitwisser, a for-
merly acclaimed scholar of Karaism,
a Jewish sect. He spends his days
cramped in the city library while his
invalid wife and five children run
amok at home.
Through an interesting turn of
events, the Mitwisser family's sole
source of income is from a friend,
James A'Bair. As a child, he was the
subject of a popular children's story,
"Bear Boy," which is loosely based
on A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh"
stories.
A'Bair as a character is one of the
novel's weaknesses. While most of
the characters drive the story and fuel
the plot, his character falls short of
Ozick's aims for him as a failed hero.
Stylistically, "Heir to the Glim-
mering World" has a Victorian feel to
it, reminiscent of a Dickens or Char-
lotte Bronte novel with its romantic
undertones and old world ideals. The
traditional feel is a result of the Mit-
wisser family's values, which come
from pre-Nazi Germany. However
the novel also has distinctly modern
aspects to it as well, adding to the
complexity of the work.
The majority of the story is
told through the eyes of Rose, who
spends her time working on Prof.
Mitwisser's research and attempting
to calm down his mentally unstable
wife. Where the novel falters is it's
daunting length - 310 pages. While
Ozick's writing is overall quite well
done and easy to read, at times it
seems as if she is feeding the read-
er too much story to swallow. Part
of this is due to the large number
of characters featured in the book,
which inevitably created subplots in
addition to the main storyline.
"Heir to the Glimmering World"
has solid prose and interesting, well-
developed characters to offer the
reader. Length aside, the novel is a
good read for anyone interested who
is in the late '30s or simply has some
time to spare.
,. ... s.._e. a x e. i.: .ka a_.
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